Wrecking bar



Oct. 27, 1959 F. x. KEEHN WRECKINGBAR Filed July 11, 1958 LAM/W V INYENTOR. FRANK X. K 5511' ATTURN EYB United States Patent WRECKING BAR Frank X. Keehn, Dallas, Tex.

Application July 11, 1958, Serial No. 747,969

3 Claims. (Cl. 254-129) This invention relates to a tool or wrecking bar.

The object of the invention is to provide a tool which is adapted to be used as a Wrecking bar whereby various types of material such as floor boards, siding, or the like can be readily pried loose or removed from studs or beams, and wherein the tool of the present invention permits the boards to be removed without damaging or splitting or breaking the boards.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wrecking bar which includes a manually operable handle assembly that can be actuated so that boards or siding or other material can be readily removed from its supporting structure, whereby the boards or other material can be salvaged and used for other purposes since the tool of the present invention will permit such material to be removed or pried loose without breaking or splitting or otherwise damaging the used material.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wrecking bar which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same.

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the wrecking bar of the present invention, showing the wrecking bar being used for prying loose one type of material.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure l, but showing the wrecking bar being used for prying loose a difl'ferent type of material.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 4.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral indicates the wrecking bar or tool of the present invention, and the tool 10 includes a body member which is indicated generally by the numeral 11. The body member 11 includes a circular portion 12 which is provided with a plurality of spaced apart notches 13 in its outer periphery, Figures 1 and 4.

Extending from the circular portion 12 and secured thereto or formed integral therewith is an arm 14, and the arm 14 is provided with a tapered surface 15 adjacent its outer end. The numeral 16 indicates a bar which is pivotally connected to the arm 14 in any suitable manner, as for example by means of a pin or bolt 17. The bar 16 is provided with an inclined surface 18, and the inclined surfaces 15 and 18 permit the member 16 to pivot.

There is further provided a handle which is indicated generally by the numeral 19, and the handle 19 includes a manually operable lever 20 which has one end pivotally connected to the center of the circular portion 12 by means of a pin or bolt 21. The numeral 22 indicates a bracket which includes a leg 23 that is connected to the pin 21, and the bracket 22 further includes a transverse finger 24 whichis secured as by welding to the lever 20. The transverse finger 24 is provided with an aperture or opening 25 therein, Figure 2.

There is further provided a lug which is indicated generally by the numeral 26, and the lug 26 includes a shank portion 27 which is slidbaly mounted in the aperture 25, and the inner end of the shank portion 27 is mounted for movement into and out of engagement with the notches 13. A coil spring 28 is mounted on the shank portion 27, and the coil spring 28 abuts or engages a disk 29 on the shank portion 27 whereby the shank portion 27 will be normally urged or biased into engagement with the notches 13. As shown in the drawings, the lug 26 further includes a transverse finger engaging portion 30 on its outer end whereby a person can readily manually engage the portion 30 as for example when the lug 26 is to be retracted from a notch 13 so that the handle 19 can be shifted to a desired location. Then, when pressure on the portion 30 is released, the spring 28 will urge or maintain the lug 26 into engagement with a corresponding notch 13.

The body member 11 is further provided with a pair of spaced apart threaded openings 31 and 32, Figures 1 and 4. Slots 33 and 34 are arranged contiguous to the openings 31 and 32. The numeral 35 indicates an adjustable or movable bearing member, and the bearing member 35 includes a lip 36 which is adapted to project through one of the slots 33 or 34. The bearing member 35 further includesa flange 37 which is provided with an opening 33 therein, and a securing element such as a bolt 39 is adapted to extend through the opening 38 and into threaded engagement with one of the openings 31 or 32.

In Figure 1 the numeral 40 indicates a stud or beam which is adapted to be engaged by the flange 36 of the bearing member 35 as for example when floor boards or members 41 are to be pried loose.

In Figure 4 the numeral 42 indicates a stud or beam which is adapted to be engaged by the bearing member 35 when the bearing member 35' is in a different position, so that members such as the siding 43 can be pried loose. Thus, it will be seen that by loosening the bolt 39, the bearing member 35 can be arranged in either the position shown in Figure 1 or the position shown in Figure 4 so that diiferent types of workpieces can be pried loose or removed. In Figure 1 the lever 20 is adapted to be moved in the direction of the arrows which is in a clockwise direction when the workpieces 41 are being removed. In Figure 4 the lever 20 is adapted to be moved in a counterclockwise direction in order to cause removal of the members 43.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided a wrecking bar or tool which is especially suitable for use in removing various types of material such as floor boards, siding or the like. With the tool of the present invention, such material can be pried loose or removed without damaging the material so that the material can be used for other purposes since it will be removed from its supporting structure without damage thereto.

In use, to remove boards such as the boards 41, the bearing member 35 is arranged in the position shown in Figure 1 so that the opening 38 in the flange 37 registers with the threaded opening 31 whereby the securing element 39 can be extended through these registering openings as shown in Figure 3. Then, the arm 14 and bar 16 are arranged contiguous to the lower surface or inner surface of the member 41 to be pried loose, and the flange 36 abuts the adjacent edge of the stud 40. Thus, by moving the lever 20 in a clockwise direction, Figure 1, it will be seen that pressure will be exerted through the lug 26 on the corresponding notch 13 and this pressure will then be exerted through the circular portion 12 and through the arm 14 so that the parts will move from the solid line position shown in Figure l to the broken line position of Figure 1 whereby the member 41 can be pried loose from its stud 40. It is to be noted that the bar 16 is pivotally connected to the arm 14 as at 17, so that the bar 16 will engage the member 41 so as to exert an even distribution of pressure therealong whereby the member 41 can be pried loose or removed without damaging this member. Furthermore, the bolt 39 can be removed from the opening 31 so that the bearing member 35 can be arranged in the position shown in Figure 4 whereby a member such as the member 43 can be pried loose from its stud 42. Thus, with the member 35 connected as shown in Figure 4, and with the flange 36 engaging a stud 42, it will be seen that by moving the lever 20 in a counterclockwise direction as indicated by the arrows in Figure 4, the bar 16 will cause the member 43 to be worked loose or pried loose from its anchoring stud 42.

Thus, it will be seen that the wrecking bar can be used in diiferent manners to remove difierent types of workpieces or boards or siding or the like. When it is desired to shift the position of the handle 19, it is only necessary to pull out on the lug 26 by gripping the portion 30 so that the inner end of the shank 27 will clear the notches 13, whereby the handle 19 can be shifted to the desired location with respect to the portion 12, and then when pressure on the lug 26 is released, the spring 28 will urge the shank 27 into engagement with the corresponding notch 13.

It is to be noted that one of the slots 33 or 34 is arranged adjacent to a corresponding opening 31 and 32, whereby the portion or lip 36 of the bearing member 35 can be extended through a corresponding slot or cutaway portion 33 or 34.

The parts can be made of any suitable material and in different shapes or sizes.

Thus, it will be seen that there has been provided a tool which can be used for removing material such as lumber and wherein the lumber will be pulled loose without splitting the lumber. The tool is especially suitable for use when wrecking frame buildings, so that the lumber can be economically and quickly and easily removed. The lug 26 can be actuated so that the handle 19 can extend at different positions as desired. It is to be noted that the flange 36 extends outwardly beyond both sides of the portion 12 so that the tool will work on either side of a stud, Figure 3. The tool can be used for pushing a board off of a stud as shown in Figure 4, or else it can be used for pulling a board from its stud as shown in Figure l. The bar 16 serves to equalize pressure on the board so as to keep the board from splitting.

Minor changes in shape, size and rearrangement of details coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

I claim:

1. In a wrecking bar, a body member including a circular portion provided with a plurality of spaced apart notches in its outer periphery, an arm extending from said circular portion, a bar pivotally connected to said arm, a handle including a manually operable lever, a pin pivotally connecting an end of said lever to the center of said circular portion, a bracket including a leg connected to said pin, said bracket further including a transverse finger secured to said lever, there being an aperture in said finger, a lug including a shank portion slidably projecting through said aperture and mounted for movement into and out of engagement with said notches, a coil spring mounted on said shank portion, said lug further including a transverse finger engaging portion on its outer end.

2. In a wrecking bar, a body member including a circular portion provided with a plurality of spaced apart notches in its outer periphery, an arm extending from said circular portion, a bar pivotally connected to said arm, a handle including a manually operable lever, 21 pin pivotally connecting an end of said lever to the center of said circular portion, a bracket including a leg connected to said pin, said bracket further including a transverse finger secured to said lever, there being an aperture in said finger, a lug including a shank portion slidably projecting through said aperture and mounted for movement into and out of engagement with said notches, a coil spring mounted on said shank portion, said lug further including a transverse finger engaging portion on its outer end, said body member being provided with a pair of spaced apart openings therein adjacent said circular portion, there being a slot contiguous to each of said last named openings, and a bearing member including a lip projecting through one of said slots, said bearing member further including a flange provided with an opening therein, and a securing element adapted to extend through the opening in said flange and through one of the openings in the body member.

3. In a wrecking bar, a body member including a circular portion provided with a plurality of spaced apart notches in its outer periphery, an arm extending from said circular portion, a bar pivotally connected to said arm, a handle including a manually operable lever, a pin pivotally connecting an end of said lever to the center of said circular portion, a bracket including a leg connected to said pin, said bracket further including a transverse finger secured to said lever, there being an aperture in said finger, a lug including a shank portion slidably projecting through said aperture and mounted for movement into and out of engagement with said notches, a coil spring mounted on said shank portion, said lug further including a transverse finger engaging portion on its outer end, said body member being provided with a pair of spaced apart openings therein adjacent said circular portion, there being a slot contiguous to each of said last named openings, and a bearing member including a lip projecting through one of said slots, said bearing member further including a flange provided with an opening therein, and a securing element adapted to extend through the opening in said flange and through one of the openings in the body member, said bar adapted to engage the material to be removed, the flange of the bearing member adapted to engage a stud.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

